Nonlinear wave-wave interactions in astrophysical and space plasmas

We discuss nonlinear mode-mode coupling phenomena in cosmic plasmas. Four problems are considered: (1) nonlinear three-wave processes in the planetary magnetosphere involving the interaction of auroral Langmuir, Alfvén and whistler waves, (2) nonlinear three-wave processes in the solar wind involving the modulation of Langmuir and electromagnetic waves by ion-acoustic waves, (3) order and chaos in nonlinear four-wave processes in cosmic plasmas, and (4) regular and chaotic dynamics of the relativistic Langmuir turbulence and its application to pulsar and AGN emissions. The observational evidence in support of nonlinear wave-wave interactions in space and astrophysical plasmas is presented.     

Acceleration of the solar wind by whistler waves from coronal holes

We investigate the possibility of an additional acceleration of the high speed solar wind by whistler waves propagating outward from a coronal hole. We consider a stationary, spherically symmetric model and assume a radial wind flow as well as a radial magnetic field. The energy equation consists of (a) energy transfer of the electron beam which excites the whistler waves, and (b) energy transfer of the whistler waves described by conservation of wave action density. The momentum conservation equation includes the momentum transfer of two gases (a thermal gas and an electron beam). The variation of the temperature is described by a polytropic law. The variation of solar wind velocity with the radial distance is calculated for different values of energy density of the whistler waves. It is shown that the acceleration of high speed solar wind in the coronal hole due to the whistler waves is very important. We have calculated that the solar wind velocity at the earth's orbit is about equal to 670 km/sec (for wave energy density about 10^?4 erg cm^?3 at 1.1R⊙). It is in approximate agreement with the observed values.     

Whistler wave cascades in solar wind plasma

Non-linear, three-dimensional, time-dependent fluid simulations of whistler wave turbulence are performed to investigate role of whistler waves in solar wind plasma turbulence in which characteristic turbulent fluctuations are characterized typically by the frequency and length-scales that are, respectively, bigger than ion gyrofrequency and smaller than ion gyroradius. The electron inertial length is an intrinsic length-scale in whistler wave turbulence that distinguishably divides the high-frequency solar wind turbulent spectra into scales smaller and bigger than the electron inertial length. Our simulations find that the dispersive whistler modes evolve entirely differently in the two regimes. While the dispersive whistler wave effects are stronger in the large-scale regime, they do not influence the spectral cascades which are describable by a Kolmogorov-like   k ^−7/3  spectrum. By contrast, the small-scale turbulent fluctuations exhibit a Navier–Stokes-like evolution where characteristic turbulent eddies exhibit a typical   k ^−5/3  hydrodynamic turbulent spectrum. By virtue of equipartition between the wave velocity and magnetic fields, we quantify the role of whistler waves in the solar wind plasma fluctuations.     

Parallel electric field-induced instability in the magnetospheric ion-electron plasma

A complete dispersion relation for a whistler mode wave propagation in an anisotropic warm ion-electron magnetoplasma in the presence of parallel electric field using the dispersion relation for a circularly polarized wave has been derived. The dispersion relation includes the effect of anisotropy for the ion and electron velocity distribution functions. The growth rate of electron-ion cyclotron waves for different plasma parameters observed atL = 6.6R _E has been computed and the results have been discussed in detail in the light of the observed features of VLF emissions and whistlers. The role of the combination of ion-cyclotron and whistler mode electromagnetic wave propagation along the magnetic field in an anisotropic Maxwellian weakly-ionized magnetoplasma has been studied.     

Nonlinear shift of wave parameters of whistlers in the ionosphere

The expression for nonlinear shift of a wave number of a whistler wave propagating through the ionosphere has been derived and the results have been discussed. It is seen that nonlinear shift of a wave number of a whistler is significant in some physical situations. From numerical estimations it is observed that wave number shifts of a whistler for both the LCP and RCP waves become significant when the frequency of the waves are nearly equal to the ion-cyclotron frequency.     

Shock drift electron acceleration and generation of waves

An analytically derived distribution function of reflected and accelerated electrons at a nearly perpendicular shock is presented. Then this distribution in a simplified form is introduced into a 1.5-D relativistic electromagnetic particle-in-cell (PIC) model and a generation of waves is studied. Numerical modeling shows not only a generation of Langmuir and high-frequency electromagnetic waves as expected, but also an efficient generation of whistler waves. Their role in emission processes of type II solar radio bursts is discussed.     

Transient Evolution of Nonlinear Localized Coherent Structures of Kinetic Alfvén Waves

We present numerical simulations of kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) and inertial Alfvén waves (IAWs) applicable to the solar wind, the solar corona, and the auroral regions, respectively, leading to the formation of coherent magnetic structures when the nonlinearity arises from ponderomotive effects and Joule heating. The nonlinear dynamical equation satisfies the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The effect of nonlinear coupling between the main KAW/IAW and the perturbation, producing filamentary structures of the magnetic field, has been studied. Scalings in the spectral index of the power spectrum at different times have been calculated. These filamentary structures can act as a source for particle acceleration by wave?–?particle interaction because the KAWs/IAWs are mixed modes and Landau damping is possible.     

Evolution of the Electron Distribution Function in the Whistler Wave Turbulence of the Solar Wind

The electron distribution functions from the solar corona to the solar wind are determined in this paper by considering the effects of the external forces, of Coulomb collisions and of the wave – particle resonant interactions in the plasma wave turbulence. The electrons are assumed to be interacting with right-handed polarized waves in the whistler regime. The acceleration of electrons in the solar wind seems to be mainly due to the electrostatic potential. Wave turbulence determines the electron pitch-angle diffusion and some characteristics of the velocity distribution function (VDF) such as suprathermal tails. The role of parallel whistlers can also be extended to small altitudes in the solar wind (the acceleration region of the outer corona), where they may explain the energization and the presence of suprathermal electrons.     

Electromagnetic wave instability in a relativistic electron-positron-ion plasma

By employing the anisotropic plasma distribution function, the stability of circularly polarized electromagnetic (EM) waves is studied in a relativistically hot electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) plasma, investigating two specific scenarios. First, linear dispersion relations associated with the transverse EM waves are analyzed in different possible frequency regimes. The expression of the aperiodic hydrodynamic instability is obtained and numerically the transverse EM modes are shown to grow exponentially. Secondly, we have found that the transverse electromagnetic wave interact with a collisionless anisotropic e-p-i plasma and damp through the nonlinear Landau damping phenomena. Taking the effects of the latter into consideration, a kinetic nonlinear Schrödinger equation is derived with local and nonlocal nonlinearities, computing the damping rates. The present work should be helpful to understand the linear and nonlinear properties of the intense EM waves in hot relativistically astrophysical plasmas, e.g., pulsars, black holes, neutron stars, etc.     

COHERENT GENERATION OF NARROW-BAND CIRCULARLY POLARIZED RADIO BURSTS FROM THE SUN AND FLARE STARS

It is shown that narrow-band radio bursts of right- and left-hand circular polarizations from the Sun and flare stars can be produced via nonlinear conversion of Langmuir waves into high-frequency electromagnetic electron cyclotron waves near the plasma frequency by coupling to low-frequency electromagnetic cyclotron waves such as Alfvén-ion cyclotron or magnetosonic-whistler waves.     

Numerical simulations to study kinetic Alfvén wave and whistler wave spectra in solar wind plasma

The numerical simulations of the model equation governing the nonlinear evolution of kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW) in solar wind plasmas are performed. The nonlinear dynamical equation of KAW satisfies the modified nonlinear Schrödinger MNLS equation when the ponderomotive nonlinearity is incorporated in the KAW dynamics. The effect of Landau damping is taken into account in the KAW dynamics. The coherent (in the absence of Landau damping) and damped (with Landau damping) localized structures of pump KAW as a consequence of ponderomotive nonlinearity have been studied in the solar wind at 1 AU. A weak whistler signal propagating in these localized structures is amplified which leads to the development of its own coherent and damped localized structures. Magnetic field (KAW) and electric field (whistler wave) power spectra and their spectral indices are calculated. Our results reveal the change in spectral index because of the damping effect which has good agreement with the observations. These damped structures and steeper spectra may be one of the reasons responsible for the plasma heating and particles acceleration in solar wind.     

Effect of parallel electric fields on whistler mode waves in an anisotropic Jovian magnetospheric plasma

The effect of parallel electrostatic field on the amplification of whistler mode waves in an anisotropic bi-Maxwellian weakly ionized plasma for Jovian magnetospheric conditions has been carried out. The growth rate for different Jovian magnetospheric plasma parameters forL = 5.6R _j has been computed with the help of general dispersion relation for the whistler mode electromagnetic wave of a drifted bi-Maxwellian distribution function. It is observed that the growth or damping of whistler mode waves in Jovian magnetosphere is possible when the wave vector is parallel or antiparallel to the static magnetic field and the effect of this field is more pronounced at low frequency wave spectrum.     

Generation of intermediate drift bursts in solar type IV radio continua through coupling of whistlers and Langmuir waves

The possible generation of intermediate drift bursts in type IV dm continua through coupling between whistler waves, traveling along the magnetic field, and Langmuir waves, excited by a loss-cone instability in the source region, is elaborated. We investigate the generation, propagation and coupling of whistlers. It is shown that the superposition of an isotropic background plasma of 10⁶K and a loss-cone distribution of fast electrons is unstable for whistler waves if the loss-cone aperture 2α is sufficiently large (sec α?4); a typical value of the excited frequencies is 0.1 ω _ce (ω _ce is the angular electron cyclotron frequency). The whistlers can travel upwards through the source region of the continuum along the magnetic field direction with velocities of 21.5–28 v _A (v _A is the Alfvén velocity). Coupling of the whistlers with Langmuir waves into escaping electromagnetic waves can lead to the observed intermediate drift bursts, if the Langmuir waves have phase velocities around the velocity of light. In our model the instantaneous bandwith of the fibers corresponds to a frequency of 0.1–0.5 ω _ce and leads to estimates of the magnetic field strength in the source region. These estimates are in good agreement with those derived from the observed drift rate, corresponding to 21.5–28 v _A, if we use a simple hydrostatic density model.     

Kinetic equilibrium of nonlinear electromagnetic waves in electron-positron-ion magnetoplasmas

The problem of a one-dimensional, nonlinear, circularly polarized wave in a collisionless plasma is solved for the case in which the group velocity of the localized wave is zero relative to the plasma frame.For an electron-positron plasma the ponderomotive potential is repulsive, and both small and large amplitude waves in the presence of reflected and transmitted particles is discussed.The inclusion of an external magnetic field such that the cyclotron frequency is smaller than the wave frequency does not alter qualitatively the results of the fieldless case, except for the fact that an electrostatic potential is generated.For the case in which the cyclotron frequency is larger than the wave frequency, the resulting potential is attractive, and it is shown that no localized waves can coexist with confined and transmitted particles. If, however, an ionic component is presnt in the electron-positron plasma, such as may be the case in pulsar magnetospheres, localized waves may again be possible.     

Venus Express observations of ULF and ELF waves in the Venus ionosphere: Wave properties and sources

Electrical activity in a planetary atmosphere enables chemical reactions that are not possible under conditions of local thermodynamic equilibrium. In both the Venus and terrestrial atmospheres, lightning forms nitric oxide. Despite the existence of an inventory of NO at Venus like the Earth’s, and despite observations of the signals expected from lightning at optical, VLF, and ELF frequencies, the existence of Venus lightning still is met with some skepticism. The Venus Express mission was equipped with a fluxgate magnetometer gradiometer system sampling at rates as high as 128 Hz, and making measurements as low as 200 km altitude above the north polar regions of Venus. However, significant noise levels are present on the Venus Express spacecraft. Cleaning techniques have been developed to remove spacecraft interference at DC, ULF, and ELF frequencies, revealing two types of electromagnetic waves, a transverse right-handed guided mode, and a linearly polarized compressional mode. The propagation of both types of signals is sensitive to the magnetic field in ways consistent with propagation from a distant source to the spacecraft. The linearly polarized compressional waves generally are at lower frequencies than the right-handed transverse waves. They appear to be crossing the usually horizontal magnetic field. At higher frequencies above the lower hybrid frequency, waves cannot enter the ionosphere from below when the field is horizontal. The arrival of signals at the spacecraft is controlled by the orientation of the magnetic field. When the field dips into the atmosphere, the higher frequency guided mode above the lower hybrid frequency can enter the ionosphere by propagating along the magnetic field in the whistler mode. These properties are illustrated with examples from five orbits during Venus Express’ first year in orbit. These properties observed are consistent with the linearly polarized compressional waves being produced at the solar wind interface and the transverse guided waves being produced in the atmosphere.     

磁云传播的动力学演化过程研究进展

磁云因其独特的磁场结构经常是重大灾害性空间天气的驱动源.近来从磁云的边界层结构、环向通量、大尺度结构等方面关于磁云传播的动力学演化过程的研究取得了一些进展.在磁云边界存在一个由于磁场重联而形成的边界层结构.在磁云传播过程中,这种发生在边界处的磁场重联可能会把磁云的磁场剥蚀掉,进而引起其磁通量绳结构环向通量的减少以及不对称.在磁云内部,经常会观测到多个子通量绳结构.这些特性各异的子通量绳可以通过磁场重联而合并,进而引起磁云磁结构的改变.关于磁云大尺度磁场拓扑位形的演化机制,除了较早提出的交换重联外,目前的研究表明在行星际空间中,磁云边界处的重联过程也可以将磁云闭合或半开放的磁场线打开或断开.尽管在相关研究中已经取得了较大进展,但关于磁云传播的动力学演化过程还有许多问题尚不清楚.在行星际小尺度磁通量绳边界也发现了边界层结构,那么磁云是否会因剥蚀而成为小尺度通量绳?磁云内子通量绳结构在相互作用中会不会引起某些不稳定性而导致整个通量绳系统的崩溃?这些问题的解决还有待于进一步的理论、观测和数值模拟研究.     

太阳风中电磁离子回旋波的观测与理论研究进展

太阳风中的电磁离子回旋(Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron, EMIC)波自报道以来,受到了广泛的关注和研究.由于波的频率接近质子的回旋频率, EMIC波可以通过回旋共振波粒相互作用将波能传递给离子,并在太阳风粒子加热和加速等能化现象中发挥重要作用.总结了太阳风中EMIC波的观测和理论研究进展,包括EMIC波在磁云内外、磁云和行星际日冕物质抛射鞘区中的观测研究得到的一系列结果以及基于观测进行波的激发机制所取得的研究进展,并展望未来研究太阳风中EMIC波的突破方向.     

Low frequency turbulence in the solar corona and fundamental radiation of type III solar radio burst

On the basis of the previous numerical simulations, a new mechanism for the emission of the fundamental radio waves of solar radio type III bursts is presented. This hypothesis is to attribute the fundamental radio emission to the coalescence of the plasma waves with the low frequency turbulence, whistler or ion acoustic waves, pre-existing on the way of the electron beam which excite the plasma waves.It is estimated that ion acoustic waves could be occasionally unstable in the solar corona due to that drifting bi-Maxwellian distribution of electrons as observed in the solar wind, which is probably caused by collision-less heat conduction.It is also suggested that the reduced damping of the ion acoustic waves in such a distorted electron distribution in the corona may decrease the threshold electric current to cause the anomalous resistivity to be the onset of the solar flares.     

A Manifestation of Negative Energy Waves in the Solar Atmosphere

Magnetosonic modes of magnetic structures of the solar atmosphere in the presence of inhomogeneous steady flows are considered. It is shown that, when the speed of the steady flow exceeds the phase speed of one of the modes, the mode has negative energy, and can be subject to an over-stability due to the negative energy wave instabilities. It is shown that registered steady flows in the solar atmosphere, with speeds below the threshold of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, can provide the existence of the magnetosonic negative energy wave phenomena. In particular, in isolated photospheric magnetic flux tubes, there are kink surface modes with negative energy, produced by the external granulation downflows. Dissipative instability of these modes due to finite thermal conductivity and explosive instability due to nonlinear coupling of these modes with Alfvén waves are discussed. For coronal loops, it is found that only very high-speed flows (>300 km s^-1) can produce negative energy slow body modes. In solar wind flow structures, both slow and fast body modes have negative energy and are unstable.     

On the generation of modified low‐frequency Farley‐Buneman waves in the solar atmosphere

The possibility of the excitation of Farley‐Buneman turbulence in the solar atmosphere is examined. It is found that the conditions for the generation of the modified Farley‐Buneman instability can be realized in the chromosphere of the Sun 1000 km above the photosphere. While usual Farley‐Buneman waves studied in relation to the Earth's ionosphere are almost electrostatic, the modified Farley‐Buneman waves in the solar atmosphere are electromagnetic ones. This means, that not only the potential electric field caused by the charge distribution, but also the perturbations of the magnetic field and the circularly‐polarized electric field are essential. Although the physical pictures of usual and modified Farley‐Buneman waves are different, their dispersion equations are almost the same. However, the increment of the modified Farley‐Buneman waves is varied by additional electromagnetic effects. It is demonstrated that electromagnetic effects hinder a Farley‐Buneman instability in occurring while ξ < 1, where ξ is the square of the ratio of ion plasma frequency times ion‐neutral frequency to ion‐cyclotron frequency times wave number times speed of light in vacuum. Under the condition ξ > 1, no Farley‐Buneman disturbances appear at all. In weakly‐ionized solar regions, the modified (ξ < 1) and also the usual (ξ ≪ 1) Farley‐Buneman turbulence could make “electromagnetic” contributions to the process of energy dissipation of nonstationary streams of neutral gases. Besides, they may modify the low‐frequency acoustic noise. It seems that the modified Farley‐Buneman turbulence contributes to the sporadic radiation of the Sun. It is possible, that such an effect takes not only place in the chromosphere of the Sun, but also in the atmospheres of other stars.